Gearing... again
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 267
Likes: 31
Gearing... again
I know it's been beat into the ground, but gearing... I had a 6.8 with 4.30's and mild 285's. It was great. I now have a duplicate truck with 3.73's an aggressive 285 and it sucks. I think 4.56 is my best bet, but it sounds like a lot of gear. Would 4.30 be better? I realize there's not a huge difference, but it's a lot of money to regear. I'd like to get it right. 4.30 was available stock on 265, that pretty much sells the 4.56, but...
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
I think it depends on where you drive, if you do 80 on freeways a lot and don't tow much 4;30s are fine, I'm not unhappy with mine, but do tend to use 3rd at 2.5 to 3k towing. wish the tranny had more gears.
If its more a dedicated tow rig and you have hills or bigger tires do the 4.56 or even 4.88.
If you're OK doing 70-75 on the freeway, I'll vote 4.56 for you.
If its more a dedicated tow rig and you have hills or bigger tires do the 4.56 or even 4.88.
If you're OK doing 70-75 on the freeway, I'll vote 4.56 for you.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 249
Likes: 21
I think it depends on where you drive, if you do 80 on freeways a lot and don't tow much 4;30s are fine, I'm not unhappy with mine, but do tend to use 3rd at 2.5 to 3k towing. wish the tranny had more gears.
If its more a dedicated tow rig and you have hills or bigger tires do the 4.56 or even 4.88.
If you're OK doing 70-75 on the freeway, I'll vote 4.56 for you.
If its more a dedicated tow rig and you have hills or bigger tires do the 4.56 or even 4.88.
If you're OK doing 70-75 on the freeway, I'll vote 4.56 for you.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 267
Likes: 31
I don't tow a lot, but do very little freeway driving. Mostly it's county roads at about 50mph and in town. When I am on the highway it's 65-70, but that's maybe once a month. I'm not set on bigger tires. The ones I have now are new, but when it's time to replace them I may go 35's. I think 4.56 sounds right. It just sounds like a lot of gear for the 33's and I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,049
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From: Media PA
You mentioned really liking your old truck with 4.30s and 285s, not much towing but enjoyed the performance of that combo and not a lot of high speed highway driving and thinking maybe 35"s in the future. With that in mind I would seriously consider 4.88 gears, those gears and 35"s will give an effective ratio of 4.30 and deliver the performance you liked in the old truck. And with the current 285s (33" I Think?) those gears won't be an issue with your stated use. Regearing isn't cheap so it's something you want to do just once and make the right choice. I ran my 4.88s for two years with 32" tire's and it was perfectly fine, even on the highway. I knew that I had 35"s in my future so I went with the deep gears when the opportunity presented itself.
My speed vs RPMs were as follows,
Speed...............32".................35"
55.....................2075..............1900
60.....................2280..............2055
65.....................2430..............2230
70.....................2600..............2400
As you can see, even with the 32"s it wasn't screaming at 70 MPH, don't fear the gear if you want to enjoy great V-10 performance! With those 32"s and 4.88s it was a hotrod around town.
My speed vs RPMs were as follows,
Speed...............32".................35"
55.....................2075..............1900
60.....................2280..............2055
65.....................2430..............2230
70.....................2600..............2400
As you can see, even with the 32"s it wasn't screaming at 70 MPH, don't fear the gear if you want to enjoy great V-10 performance! With those 32"s and 4.88s it was a hotrod around town.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 267
Likes: 31
Thanks for the info on the 4.88s. I would have expected higher RPM with 32's. 35's are a possibility, but I don't really want to base my decision on them. I've only put a couple of thousand miles on my current 33's and really like the tires, so no plan to replace them till they need it and at about 6,000 miles a year that will be a while. The 3.73's on the other hand need to go.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,447
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
The gear wont hurt your truck, like already said if your gonna keep the truck and you plan on spending the money and your plans are 35's in the future go with 4.88 gears. I'd also recommend either a Detroit truetrac or Detroit locker in the rear axle. I have the locker and love mine, just wish I went 4.88 gears becasue I threw 35,'s u der my truck and absolutely HATED the 5.4/4.30 gear/35 tire combo
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2018
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I do plan on doing a truetrac at the same time. I've considered the full locker, but I have to drive on icy roads in the winter and and 1 ton crew cab isn't exactly a trail rig, so I figure the truetrac suits my needs better.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,447
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
I live in south jesrey and I drive my f350 all the time. Never had an issue in ice or snow, but you drive the proper way and you dont end up in a ditch like all these idiots I pull out all winter long
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 267
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Interesting. I've always heard they weren't recommended for icy conditions. My LSD (it came with a factory one and I assume that's what's still in there) actually works quite well and now and then it will start to kick out a bit in snow, but it's completely predictable and a non-issue. I'm only replacing it because I only plan on paying to have my rear end apart once and might as well upgrade to something that isn't going to wear out. Maybe I'll have to look harder at the locker.
edit: I was stationed in Alaska and would pull tons of people out every winter. Guys who grew up in Louisiana or somewhere and got stationed up there were not even remotely prepared to drive in conditions like that.
edit: I was stationed in Alaska and would pull tons of people out every winter. Guys who grew up in Louisiana or somewhere and got stationed up there were not even remotely prepared to drive in conditions like that.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,447
Likes: 70
From: South Jersey
My factory LS was replaced under warranty around 24k then I had 4.30 gears installed around 37k. About four years later the LS went out again so I had enough with the poor traction and went straight to the Detroit locker. Yes if I drive like an idiot I can easily drift my truck in the rain, snow or ice, even driving straight I can hammer down on the skinny pedal and get the rear to start spinning and sliding. But like I said I drive normally and the locker has no I'll side effect on the street during the winter, actually if it does slid which it hasn't on it's own but maybe once just let off the throttle and it hooks right back up. I've had straight mud terrain tires and then two differnt types of all terrains and neither was worse than the other during the winter. It all comes down to how you drive, drive like a 16 year old out in your dads truck for the first time and you'll wind up in a ditch, drive responsibly and you'll have no issues. But if I wanna goof off I just hammer the skinny pedal and I know my truck good enough that I can slid that big girl whatever I want her
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Just get a Detroit and be happy. These trucks are heavy they love Detroits. Heck I plow and sand it works great. Im not sliding all over the place.. Just ridiculous. Or you could get a Grizzly locker.
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